Overview

Flexible Combined Honours (FCH) offers a unique and appealing degree structure as it lets you study a range of subjects, related or totally diverse, in a very flexible manner. It allows you to develop a particular blend of knowledge and skills in line with your own subject interests and career objectives.

At its simplest level, FCH lets you combine two subjects where there is currently no existing Combined Honours degree at the University, for example ‘Geography and Economics’ or ‘Management and German’. It also offers the opportunity to study three subject areas, if compulsory modules allow – please ask about this before applying.

All FCH students study alongside Single and Combined Honours students at the University, so you will be learning alongside those with the same interests. You are able to combine subjects across departments, including arts/humanities, sciences and social sciences, creating a cross-college degree such as ‘Biosciences and Philosophy’ or ‘Anthropology and Management’.

Alternatively, you can take modules from a variety of departments by studying one of our thematic pathways. For example, our ‘Sustainability’ pathway enables you to choose relevant modules from Geography, Politics, Management, Biosciences, Middle East and Arabic Studies, Anthropology and Sociology. Other thematic pathways include ‘Mediterranean Studies’, ‘Strategy and International Security’ and ‘Religion.’ Our thematic pathways can be studied on their own or in combination with other subject areas.

The title of your degree will reflect your areas of study: eg, BA International Relations and Economics, BSc Mathematics and Sustainability or BA Drama and Philosophy. Throughout your degree you are guided by the FCH staff, subject coordinators in each of your subject areas and your personal tutor. All are there to help you choose the most appropriate academic pathways and to get the most out of your degree and your time at the University of Exeter.

FCH will appeal to you if you wish to study a range of subjects, if you are not sure what disciplines you want to focus on yet, or if you wish to weight your credits to suit your strengths or areas of interest.

The following FCH subject areas are available – you can combine any two unless stated or the combination exists as an ‘established’ Combined Honours degree. If you are interested in combining three subjects, please contact us before applying:

▲ Available both as British Psychological Society accredited and as non-accredited pathways.

All FCH students study the same modules as those taken by other students at the University, so you will be studying alongside others with the same interests. These degrees offer the widest possible access to Exeter’s range of subject disciplines.

Programme variations

Please note that if a Combined Honours programme already exists at one of our campuses, then it cannot be studied under Flexible Combined Honours.

Programme structure

The modules we outline here provide examples of what you can expect to learn on this degree course based on recent academic teaching. The precise modules available to you in future years may vary depending on staff availability and research interests, new topics of study, timetabling and student demand.

All our undergraduate degree programmes are made up of a number of modules, each of which has a particular credit value, usually 15 or 30 credits. You take modules to the value of 120 credits in each year. Your credits could be arranged in a number of combinations, the modules simply need to add up to a total of 120 credits each year. If you choose to study two subjects you could equally weight the credits as 60/60 or you could make one subject a major and one subject a minor through a 75/45 or 90/30 credit arrangement. If you study three subjects you would organise your credits as 45/45/30 or 60/30/30.

Year 1

In your first year you usually take a combination of one or more compulsory modules, plus optional modules chosen from those available in that year. Please be aware that some subjects only offer compulsory modules in order for students to have a thorough understanding in order to progress to second year and third year study eg. BioSciences, Mathematics, Computer Science, Economics, Sociology, Anthropology, Criminology.

Please see the FCH module pages for more details on compulsory modules for each subject.Please visit subject specific undergraduate pages for example optional modules.

Note – optional modules are subject to change and not all modules are available to FCH students, due to timetable constraints.

Year 2

In your second year you will have more choice of modules and will be able to structure your degree to reflect your own preferences. It is possible to drop a first year subject and start a new one or follow a new themed pathway.

Please see the FCH module pages for more details on compulsory modules for each subject.Please visit subject specific undergraduate pages for example optional modules.

Note – optional modules are subject to change and not all modules are available to FCH students, due to timetable constraints.

Note – the following are highly unlikely to allow second year entry due to space and timetabling – Sociology, Anthropology, Criminology, Philosophy, English, History, Medical Sciences.

Year 3

If you study a language through the Modern Language department, as 50% of your degree, you will spend your third year abroad as an integral part of your programme. The year abroad comprises 120 credits. Assessment is normally based on the credits gained at the partner institution abroad.

Non-language students will spend their third year in a partner university on an Erasmus/Socrates exchange or other approved programme of study, which teaches in English.

You can apply directly for the four year 'with Study Abroad' programme, or transfer from another programme once you are at Exeter.

Final year

During your final year you can also include research-based independent study or a dissertation with individual supervision in a subject of your choice.

Please see the FCH module pages for more details on compulsory modules for each subject.Please visit subject specific undergraduate pages for example optional modules.

Note – optional modules are subject to change and not all modules are available to FCH students, due to timetable constraints.

Please note that if a Combined Honours programme already exists at one of our campuses, then it cannot be studied under Flexible Combined Honours.

Entry requirements 2019

Typical offer

Required subjects

Programmes with Study Abroad

In order to be eligible for our ‘with Study Abroad’ programmes you will need to attain an average of 60 per cent or more in your first year.

Entry for programmes ‘with Study Abroad’ is offered on the basis that you will spend your time abroad at an institution where the teaching and examining is delivered in English. However, we also have partners that teach in French, Spanish and German. Should you wish to study at one of these institutions you will need to take modules through the Foreign Language Centre up to ‘Advanced’ standard in the appropriate language. In order to reach this standard before the year abroad, students usually need to have entered the University with the equivalent of a good GCSE or AS level (or higher) in that language.

If you are an undergraduate student in the department of Modern Languages you will spend a year abroad as an integral part of your degree and will select a destination based on the language/languages you are studying.

Completing your UCAS form

When completing your UCAS form please use the Flexible Combined Honours UCAS code:

You do not need to enter a UCAS code for each chosen subject. Instead, please ensure you indicate your proposed subjects under ‘Further details’ in the ‘choices’ section of the application using the abbreviations given in the table below. If you wish to study more than two subjects, please contact us before completing your application form.

Subject codes - Streatham / St Luke's (Exeter)

Code

Subject

Acco

Accounting

AntH

Ancient History

Angy

Anthropology

Arab

Arabic

Arch

Archaeology

AHVC

Art History and Visual Culture

BioC

Biochemistry

Biol

Biosciences: Molecular and Cellular Biology

BrSL

British Sign Language

Chem

Chemistry

Chin

Chinese

Class

Classics

ClaSt

Classical Studies

CoSc

Computer Science

Crim

Criminology

Dram

Drama

Econ

Economics

SpSc

Exercise and Sport Sciences

Engl

English

Film

Film Studies

Fren

French

GeoH

Geography - Human

GeoP

Geography - Physical

Geog

Geography - human and physical combined

Germ

German

Sust

Global Futures - Sustainability

Grek

Greek (ancient)

Hist

History

IntR

International Relations

Ital

Italian

Japn

Japanese (minor)

Latn

Latin

Lead

Leadership

Mang

Management

MedS

Medical Sciences

Math

Mathematics

Medi

Mediterranean Studies

MENA

Middle East and North African Studies

Phil

Philosophy

Poli

Politics

Port

Portuguese

PNON

Psychology - non-accredited BPS pathway

PBPS

Psychology - BPS accredited pathway

Reli

Religion

RePE

Religion, Philosophy and Ethics

Russ

Russian

Soci

Sociology

Span

Spanish

Sport Sciences - see Exercise and Sport Sciences

SaIS

Strategy and International Security

Sust

Sustainability - Global Futures

TESL

Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL)

Theo

Theology

Offers/Interviews

Offers are usually made on the basis of your UCAS form without an interview. Interviews are usually only for Drama applicants. If we make you an offer, you will be invited to an Offer-Holder Visit Day.

Separate personal statement

If your subject combination for Exeter is unusual compared to your other UCAS applications, you may send a separate personal statement, as a Word attachment, to: ug-ad@exeter.ac.uk• Max 4,000 characters - i.e. same as the UCAS one.• No need to repeat out-of-school interests etc., as the main UCAS statement is read as well as the separate one.

Additional selection criteria

We are looking for well-qualified students with a genuine interest in and enthusiasm for the subject.We receive a large number of applications from well-qualified applicants and may not be able to make offers to all those applicants who have achieved or are predicted to achieve grades in line with the typical offer shown above.In addition to the specific requirements listed above, we look for excellent A level* results/predictions and we may also take into account results up to and including GCSEs* and AS Levels* as part of our holistic assessment of an application.

*Equivalent qualifications will be considered. For more information about our equivalencies for specific qualifications please contact our Admissions Office.

International students

The University welcomes applications from international students and recognises a wide range of international qualifications as well as A levels and the International Baccalaureate.International students should check details of our English language requirements and may be interested in our Foundation programmes.

Further information

For full and up-to-date information on applying to Exeter and entry requirements, including requirements for other types of qualification, please see the Applying section.

Please note that if a Combined Honours programme already exists at one of our campuses, then it cannot be studied under Flexible Combined Honours.

Learning and teaching

You’ll learn through lectures, tutorials and seminars, with a growing emphasis at each successive level on student-led learning. Science-based subjects will also include laboratory work and experiments. Our teaching emphasises the need to analyse, discuss and deploy ideas in a variety of settings and not simply on the ability to memorise. Modules are also designed to encourage you to think and write analytically about broad subjects.

Innovative learning

We’re actively engaged in introducing new methods of learning and teaching, including increasing use of interactive computer-based approaches to learning, such as our virtual learning environment. Students can access detailed information about modules and learning outcomes and take part in discussion forums.

As well as attending lectures and writing essays and assignments, you’ll be expected to make presentations in seminars or tutorials. We encourage the presentation of work because it involves you actively in the teaching and learning process and develops important life skills, such as good verbal and visual communication, as well as effective interaction with other people.

We’re committed to enhancing and developing your key personal and transferable skills. You’ll develop a range of professional skills, for example, time management and team working. You’ll gain valuable critical, analytical and communication skills, as well as subject-specific skills.

You’re encouraged to discuss aspects of the subject with the lecturer either individually or in groups, promoting the development of informal tutorials with the agenda set by students.

Other opportunities

The Student-Staff Liaison Committee provides an opportunity to communicate your views and influence, change and shape your degree. Societies organise guest speakers, trips and social events and provides opportunity to meet students who share a love of the subjects.

Research-inspired teaching

We believe that every student benefits from being part of a culture that is inspired by research and being taught by experts. Teaching will be highly relevant as lecturers will be familiar with contemporary issues and the latest developments in their field. Your seminars and tutorials will give you the opportunity to discuss and explore these new ideas in more depth. Regular research seminars are given by staff and by visiting lecturers, which will also bring you the latest issues on a wide range of research topics.

Academic support

You will have access to an academic tutor who is available for advice and support throughout your studies. There are also a number of services on campus where you can get advice and information, including the Students’ Guild Advice Unit.

Assessment

You’ll be assessed by a variety of methods: some modules are assessed on the basis of exams only, some modules require assessed coursework that can take the form of essays and projects or presentations, while practical modules tend to be assessed by the preparation of written reports, portfolios of work, practical assignments, fieldwork notebooks and takeaway papers to allow time for research. Your first year doesn’t count towards your final degree classification, but you do have to pass it in order to progress. If you study a three-year programme, assessments in the final two years both count towards your classification, and if you study a four-year programme then the final three years all contribute.

Study abroad

Study Abroad is the opportunity to study at one of our renowned partner universities around the world. All students can choose to study abroad as part of their degree. The year abroad takes place in the third year of a four-year degree programme. You can apply directly for the four-year 'with Study Abroad' programme, or transfer from another programme once you are at Exeter.

Why study abroad?

There are many good reasons why students choose a programme with a Study Abroad placement. First and foremost, living and studying in a different country offers exciting new experiences and the chance to broaden one’s horizons, academically and culturally. What’s more, it encourages you to become more self-confident and independent, as well as allowing the chance to specialise in areas that are possibly not available at Exeter. The willingness to adapt to new environments and to face new challenges are just two of the factors that make students with a Study Abroad degree so invaluable to future employers. For these reasons, amongst many others, Study Abroad is an opportunity that should be considered by all Humanities students.

Where can I study abroad?

The University has links with many foreign institutions in Europe and beyond. The destinations available are dependent on the subjects you are studying. For a full list of the destinations available, please see our 'where can I study abroad' pages.

Find out more

Our Study Abroad pages have full information about the different opportunities available, and the fees and funding for your third year.If you have any questions about studying abroad as part of your degree, you can contact our Study Abroad team via: humanities-studyabroad@exeter.ac.uk

Careers

Our FCH students have an excellent reputation with employers across a range of sectors. As an FCH student you are able to build a programme of study that meets your career goals. Not only does this help you to stand out from the crowd, but you are also able to demonstrate breadth of knowledge and the ability to shape your own degree.

You will have the opportunity to participate in work experience as part of your degree programme. Options range from short work placements lasting for one or two weeks, to spending up to a year working in the UK or abroad.

Recent graduates are now working for▲:

Civil Service

Lloyds Banking Group

Mondelez International

Devon and Cornwall Police

Ernst and Young

Deloitte

RSPB

Recent graduates are now working as▲:

Political Campaigns Officer

Freelance Reporter

NHS Graduate Management Trainee

Human Resources Executive

Foreign Exchange Business Developer

▲ This information has been taken from the Destinations of Leavers from Higher Education (DLHE) Surveys 2014/15 and 2015/16. Please note that, due to data protection, the job titles and organisations are listed independently and do not necessarily correspond.

Careerzone

We have a dedicated, award-winning Careers Service , with offices at our Exeter and Penryn campuses, ensuring you have access to careers advisors, mentors and the tools you need to succeed in finding employment in your chosen field on graduation. We offer the Exeter Award and the Exeter Leaders Award which include employability-related workshops, skills events, volunteering and employment which will contribute to your career decision-making skills and success in the employment market. Our graduates compete very successfully in the employment market, many employers target the University when recruiting new graduates.